Note: the Birth Certificate needs to be

AUTHENTICATED rather than Apostille

REQUEST
AUTHENTICATION
= non-Hague country
Apostille versus Authentication
The difference between an Apostille and Authentication for Documents is so simple, first, An
Apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents that will be used in countries that
participate in the Hague Convention of 1961. Apostilles are only used to authenticate documents
that will be used in another country. An Apostille may take the form of a stamp upon a document
or it may be attached to the document as an allonge (a French word describing an attachment to a
legal document). If an allonge is used, it is important that it NEVER be detached from the
original document, to which it may be stapled, glued, or otherwise firmly attached.

Second, Authentication refers to countries that are not members of the Apostille Convention
and require different forms and certifications. The Department of State Authentication process
for non-Apostille countries is conducted by the US Department of State as well. There are about
80 countries that do not subscribe to the Hague Convention, but still need to have official
documents verified in order to be used in those countries. The process is similar to obtaining an
Apostille, however it requires the additional Embassy Legalization by the Embassy of the
country in which the document is to be presented. As these requirements change, we recommend
that you consult the embassy website for information or call the relevant embassy before
attempting to legalize your document on your own.

Author: Frank W, Expedited Apostille services provider in California [Nov 20, 2016]

Apostille: An apostille is a certificate — often attached to the document by an appropriate

government official after it is notarized. Under the Hague Convention, signatory countries have
agreed to recognize public documents issued by other signatory countries if those public
documents are authenticated by the attachment of an internationally recognized form of
authentication known as an "apostille'''. The Apostille ensures that public documents issued in
one signatory country will be recognized as valid in another signatory country.

There is a detailed list of countries that fall under the Apostille process which was established by
the Hague Convention.

Currently there are 97 countries that require this process be adhered to with all official
documents including birth or death certificates, school transcripts, court documents or divorce
decrees and other local, state or federal court issued documents. The object of the Apostille is to
"abolish the requirement of diplomatic or consular legalization for foreign public documents".
The completed Apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the
person signing the document has acted, and identifies the seal/stamp which the document bears.

Authentication: Authentication stands for the verification of the genuineness of a document

or signature, to make it effective or valid.

For countries which are not signatories to the Hague Convention of 1961, documents are
required to go through the authentication process certifying the authenticity of the document
before being presented in the country of use.

Although the first steps are similar to the Apostille process, the Authentication Process does
require an additional step of Embassy Legalization by the Embassy of the country in which the
document will be presented. After obtaining the US Department of State certification, we will
present your document to the Embassy of the respective country to obtain their authentication
stamp. This will be the final step, completing the process.

Author DK Mandal, Manager Admissions at Achievers Point (2017-present) [May 1, 2018]

Website sources: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-apostille-and-

authentication

Office of Authentications
U.S. Department of State
CA/PPT/S/TO/AUT
44132 Mercure CIR
PO BOX 1206
Sterling, VA 20166 1206

US Apostille
1330 New Hampshire Ave,
NW Suite B1, Washington, DC